On Friday, in a surprising political development, the BJP and the JD(U) declared to contest on equal number of seats in 2019 Lok Sabha elections.
After finalizing the seat sharing formula in a meeting, Bihar CM Nitish Kumar and the BJP President Amit Shah addressed the media. Amit Shah said, “It has been decided that BJP and JDU will fight on equal number of seats for Lok Sabha Elections 2019 in Bihar. Other allies will also get a respectable seat share.” He also said that the actual numbers of seats will be announced in the coming days.
The BJP President also said, “Upendra Kushwaha and Ram Vilas Paswan will remain with us. When a new ally has joined us, there will be a reduction in seat share for everyone.”
JD(U) led by Nitish Kumar, BJP, LJP, and RLSP will be contesting Lok Sabha 2019 elections in an alliance.
The JD(U) was not part of the NDA in the 2014 Lok Sabha elections. In last Lok Sabha elections it fought along with the left parties and in 2015 it formed a grand alliance with RJD and Congress against the NDA in Bihar assembly elections.
In 2014 Lok Sabha elections, BJP-LJP-RLSP alliance had emerged victorious on 31 Lok Sabha seats, while rest of the seven seats were won by RJD (4), Congress (2) and NCP (1).
The BJP is often accused of not maintaining cordial relations with its alliance partner but the recent magnanimity shown by the BJP proves that such accusations are baseless. The BJP had won 22 Lok Sabha seats in 2014 Lok Sabha elections, but this time they are contesting for less than 22 seats just to allot respectable and reasonable number of seats to its alliance partner.
On the other hand, the Congress party who wants to form a grand alliance against the BJP refused to give a respectable number of seats to BSP and SP in Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh & Chhattisgarh assembly elections. Last month Mayawati snubbed Congress in MP and Chhattisgarh. She declared that her party will contest in the upcoming Chattisgarh state elections in coalition with Ajit Jogi’s Janata Congress Chhattisgarh (JCC-J). The BSP will contest on 35 seats and JCC will contest on the remaining 55 seats. One of the reasons why BSP decided to go with JCC is perhaps the Congress party was not willing to give more than 5 seats to the BSP. In Madhya Pradesh also, the Congress was willing to extend support on only 10 to 15 seats to the BSP.
Following Mayawati’s lead Akhilesh Yadav also ditched the Congress in MP. Speaking to media at the party office, Akhilesh said, “Congress has wasted a lot of time… how long are we supposed to wait… now the election dates are about to be announced.. so now we will not wait any more.” ANI quoted Akhilesh Yadav stating, “We will hold talks with BSP.” According to Akhilesh the party is already in talks with Dondwana Gantantra Party (GGP) in Chhattisgarh and Madhya Pradesh and is now seeking to join ranks with BSP as well. With BSP and SP both out of the equation the problems for Congress will further increase.
The INC has followed the policy of use and throw since many years as far as regional and its alliance partners are concerned. The INC should take a leaf out of BJP’s book and treat its alliance partners with respect.